Kerala: 65-year-old Nagampadam Railway overbridge finally demolished

Indian Railways finally demolished the 65-year-old Nagampadam Railway overbridge in Kottayam, Kerala. Last year, an overbridge was already constructed

Kottayam: Indian Railways on Saturday successfully demolished the 65-year-old Nagampadam Railway overbridge (ROB). As part of a project to double the railway line, a new overbridge was constructed last year. The railway department decided to use limited explosive materials to demolish the 65-year-old bridge to avoid disruption of traffic. The electric cables that ran along the lines were also removed.

Railway officials also employed the services of a crane. The destroyed parts of the bridge were carried out after completely blocking trains on the Kottayam - Ernakulam - Kayamkulam stretch on Saturday.

Two consistent demolition attempts of destroying the bridge failed in April.

On April 26 the bridge and its pillars were drilled, and explosives were placed inside it. The first attempt of destroying the overbridge was around 11 am on April 27. But due to an electrical malfunction, the first attempt failed.

At around 5 pm on the same day, the authorities tried to destroy the bridge again, but it was unable to produce the desired result. Top railway authorities, district heads, police, firefighters and municipal authorities were present during the failed operation.

Thousands of people had thronged the Nehru Stadium to witness the collapse of Nagampadam railway overbridge. The latest plan to take down the 65-year-old ROB was formulated in consultations with an expert team, which inspected the structure earlier this month.